Background Research: Quote on ‘The Book’
by Reed on Feb.13, 2008, under Thoughts
I ran across this quote in my background research for my message two weeks ago and am just now getting it posted. Simply, yet profound thinking on how God worked in the world through his word.
“Pretty much all the nations and tribes from Bible times that were of Israel’s size are gone. So why did Israel survive? Not just survive; in the words of Thomas Cahill, ‘how did a tribe of desert nomads change the way the world thought and felt? What distinguished Israel from everyone else?’ It wasn’t power. Most of its history Israel was a vassal nation. It wasn’t wealth. Israel was never a consistent economic player. It wasn’t size. Israel was dwarfed by Greece, Egypt, Babylon, and Rome. What did Israel have? A book.” – John Ortberg, People of the Book, Leadership Journal, 29(1), p37
It was Israel’s dogged commitment to hearing God speak through his word that influenced the intellectual (and spiritual) history of the world.
By the way, if you’re interested in joining the bible study methods class that will be starting up in a few weeks, email me.
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I'm Reed Mueller, pastor of Columbia Ridge Community Church. Feel free to read what pops out of my head and onto the web, then join in the discussion if you want.
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February 14th, 2008 on 4:18 pm
Is it not also true that some of those other countries being mentioned in that quote are gone because of the same God?
February 15th, 2008 on 9:08 am
Two responses:
On the one hand, I think that Cahill’s point is that even for nations that are still in existence (rather than the ones that Ortberg mentioned) there is a differential impact of the Jewish people on the state of the world. They have influenced the very way the whole western world conceives of itself for the most part. They have passed down their intellectual and religious perspectives from the book and it is undeniably a part of us (although that may be changing some now).
On the other hand, I think the point Ortberg is making is that their adherence to Scripture as the very words of God is part of their covenant mindset – that is, they believed their God was active in their lives and that one of the greatest gifts he gave was the Torah. This gift, God’s continuing voice in their community, kept them together as a people.
February 16th, 2008 on 10:34 am
Yea, I get that. My point I think I was making is that the Jews are still here because of a relationship with God and some of the other countries are gone is because they were against or apart from the same God. God is the sustainer no doubt in my mind. But greater nations fall when God is not there!